title: Breast cancer and pregnancy; overview of international bibliography.
abstract: Breast cancer constitutes the first gynaecological malignancy in pregnancy with a frequency of 1 : 3,000 - 10,000 pregnancies. Pregnancy itself does not seem to affect the odds of developing breast cancer or its prognosis. Breast ultrasonography constitutes the diagnostic method of choice, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used as adjunct. As main staging tests, thoracic X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography are recommended. The therapy of choice is modified radical mastectomy for the first two trimesters and lumpectomy or partial mastectomy followed by radiation therapy after childbirth for patients diagnosed in the 3(rd) trimester of pregnancy. The administration of chemotherapy is deemed acceptable in the 2(nd) and 3(rd) trimester, whereas hormonal therapy should be avoided for reasons of safety of the foetus.
authors.affiliation: Breast Unit, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalogerakos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sofoudis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tzonis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koutsouradis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Katsoulis
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome